Embalming and cooling board



No. 6|6,69I. Patented Dec. 27, I898. H. A. TOZER.

EMBALMING AND COOLING BOARD.

W (Application flied Nov. 20, 1897.) (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE A. TOZER, OF LITTLE FALLS, NElV YORK.

EMBALMING AND COOLING BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,691, dated December 27, 1898.

Application filed November 20, 1897. Serial No. 659,253. (No model.)

Boards for Corpses, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to that class of embalining and cooling boards which are capable of folding together when not in use; and the objects of my improvements are to produce a simple and durable embalrning and cooling board which may be conveniently changed into different lengths and used with equal advantages for corpses of adults,youths, and children. I attain these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the board as it appears when used for corpses of adults. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the board having the rear end section folded down and the shoulder-rest advanced and supported entirely upon the main portion of the board, this being the position of the parts when the board is used for corpses of youths. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the board when folded. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of one of the braces. ,Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the hinged connection between the legs and the main and end portions of the board. Fig. 6 is a perspective of'one of the brackets and its spring.

Similar letters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views.

A represents the two main portions of the board and which are connected by means of two hinges B, secured underneath and adjacent to the sides of the said main portions.

0 0 represent two pair of upwardly-projecting iron brackets secured to the sides of the main portions and adapted to butt against each other when the board is in use, and thus prevent the main portion from sagging at the joint. The rear brackets C overlap the joint of the two main sections in order to promote rigidity of the board and prevent any lateral displacement of the two main sections. The rear brackets are further provided with two longitudinal hearings or slots adapted to receive two pivots secured to the shoulderrest hereinafter mentioned.

'D represents two bearing-brackets secured to the sides of the rear main section and situated adjacent to the rear end portion thereof. These brackets are each provided with a flat spring D, having a hole D These springs are adapted to snap over pivots K on the shoulder-rest, and thus lock the same to the main portion when the board is folded up, as shown in Fig. 3.

E E represent leaves forming the two end portions of the board. Situated .directly below the joint of the said main and end sections and extending half their thickness from the abutting ends of the said sections are four legs F F. These legs are connected to the main sections by means of hinges G and to the end sections by means of hinges G.

H represents four pair of braces pivotally secured to the different sections and the legs and adapted to normally brace and hold the sections against their tendency of folding together. Each of said braces is composed of two strips of band-ironone upper and one lower strip-the upper strip being connected to one of the sections of the board and the lower strip being similarly connected to one of the legs, both strips being pivotally connected at their adjoining ends by means of a rivet H. The lower strip is provided with a notch or groove H adapted to receivethe pivot H situated adjacent to the lower end portion of the upper strip. This notch is made deep enough to permit the braces to saga little in order to prevent the braces from being accidentally folded up.

I represents the shoulder-rest for the embalming-board. This shoulder-rest is provided on its sides with four outwardly-projecting pivots K K, the lower set of which is adapted to engage the bearing-brackets G or D, above mentioned, and support the shoulder-rest when in an inclined position. The upper pivots K are adapted to engage the holes D in the spring when the board is folded up.

L represents two braces pivotally secured at their upper ends to the shoulder-rest, their lower ends engaging pockets A on the board. These braces support the upper end of the shoulder-rest and also act as an adjusting device by which the shoulder-rest may be adjusted to different degrees of inclination.

M represents two brackets secured underneath and situated adjacent to the abutting ends of the two main sections of the board. These brackets forni a carrying-handle for the board when the same is folded up.

In erecting the board from a folded position the two main sections are first folded out in line with each other and the braces connecting the said portions and the legs sprunginto shape. The board is then placed on its feet or legs, in which position the leaves or end sections may easily be placed in position by a similar manipulation of their braces.

In using the board for corpses of adults the shoulder-rest should be placed above the rear end section. This is done by first inserting the lower pivots on the shoulder-rest in the rear bearing-brackets D and then inserting the lower ends of the braces L in the pockets A on the board.

For corpses of youths the rear end section is folded down and the shoulder-rest placed above the rear main section by similarly adjustingits lower pivots into the forward bearing-brackets and placing the ends of the braces into the pockets A For corpses of children the shoulder-rest remains in the same position as that for corpses of youths, but the forward leaf or end section is folded down, and thus made to conform in length to the small size of the corpse.

I do not desire to limit myself to the particular construction herein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes as would fairly come within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a folding embalming and cooling board, the combination with two hinged main sections and two hinged end sections,two pairs of bearing-brackets secured to the sides of the rear main section, the rear pair of said brackets being each provided with a spring-latch, an independent and removable shou1der-rest having two sets of pivots secured to its sides, the lower set of said pivots being adapted to engage either of the said bearing-brackets when the board is in use, the upper set of said pivots being adapted to engage the said springlatches when the board is folded up, two braces pivotallyconnected at their upper ends with the shoulder-rest, the lower ends of said braces engaging pockets on the board, substantially as described.

2. In a folding embalming and cooling board, the combination with two hinged main sections and two hinged end sections two pairs of bearing-brackets secured to the rear main section an independent and removable shoulder-rest provided with two pivots at its lower end, said pivots being adapted to engage either of the said bearing-brackets when the board is in use, two braces pivotally connected at their upper ends with the said shoulder-rest, the lower ends of said braces engaging pockets on the board, substantially as de scribed.

HORACE A. TOZER. Vitnesses:

G. F. GIRVAN, C. J. LUNDSTROM. 

